I can tell you, 2009 will be a lot happier once the temperature climbs up above -20 degrees. Did I say I was going to start a sweater? I’ve started a sweater–Jared Flood’s seamless Cobblestone sweater from Interweave Knits.
What you’re looking at here is the garter stitch that goes up each side to the armpit, as well as circling the bottom edge of the sweater as a substitute for ribbing. You may not be able to tell but, as the sweater is seamless, I’m knitting it in the round. I had heard that garter stitch in the round was annoying–one row knit, one row purl, repeat repeat repeat–but I didn’t know just how annoying until I started on this. So of course this means the entire yoke, from the armpits upwards, is also garter stitch, and it will decrease very very slowly. I don’t know how I’m going to stay motivated through all of that. I’ve run out of things to bribe myself with.
To keep you motivated, here’s RuPaul’s new video, which features footage from his new drag competition reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race (go on, you know it will be fun):
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You’ll like this. A friend of mine made it and it turned out fabulous!
Well, that’s encouraging to hear! One of the things that’s helping is the yarn–I’m using Cascade Tweed and it’s terrific to work with. How long did it take your friend to make altogether?
I’m knitting this right now too; in fact it looks as though we’re at about the same point on the body. I noticed you have the line in the garter border at the seam same as I do. I found some instructions to avoid that, unfortunately not in time to save the hem. I do plan on trying it out on the yoke, I really don’t want that line running up the back. Although if the garter stitch in the round is fiddly for you, this may make it more so.
Thanks for the link, Jason! I was actually thinking of trying some kind of duplicate stitch over it, thinking “Oh, no one will be looking too closely down here”–completely forgetting that of course there will be a similar line on the yoke! I’ll definitely try Kathy’s jogless garter stitch and see if I can keep myself reminded of it as I toil away…
I didn’t realize this sweater is knit in the round when I previously said I liked the garter stitch texture. Knitting in the round is what you do when you don’t like purling. I would definitely need a good movie and some good munchies for all that boring and irritating gs. I love Marilyn Munroe, and the Seven Year Itch and Some Like It Hot are my favourites. You are right, RuPaul was fun. I hope that your power wasn’t out last night.
Is there a way you could use Wrap-and-Turn to do it all in real garter stitch? There would still be a line but maybe you could make it a design element. Or just put a placket opening down the center front of the yoke and knit garter stitch, and seam the placket line (or keep it as a design element). Or carry the yarn over the left shoulder and manipulate it with the left thumb, which makes purling much easier.